Cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri made a huge claim that the T20 franchise might soon play the bilateral series as cricket slowly moves towards the global leagues around the world. The magnitude of T20 leagues has increased immensely with the cricket calendar being filled with T20 leagues and as many top players opting to play franchise cricket rather than playing for the country.
The former Indian coach believes that the T20 format is the key to the world of cricket, as it helps to evolve all over the globe. He also reckoned the bilateral series between the countries should be reduced.
Speaking on Espncricinfo, Ravi Shastri believes that the franchise can opt to play bilateral series in the near future stating that Mumbai Indians could play Kolkata Knight Riders in the United States.
Last year, Mumbai Indians organised a camp for their players in England to play T20 games against county sides to give their players exposure in a bid to play in foreign conditions.
“Bilateral franchise series can happen, it could be a case of MI playing KKR in the US. It could well happen,” Ravi Shastri said.
It can be possible in the future with the IPL franchise expanding their ownership in CPL, SA20, ILT20, and MLC, and will look to buy a few teams in BBL and The Hundred when they target potential cricket fans from Australia and England.
The National Teams Will Assemble Just Before A Big World Cup – Ravi Shastri
Ravi Shastri said that the bilateral series between the international team will have to suffer and reckons that cricket should try to go in the football way, as the national teams can assemble the team just before the big tournaments in cricket and believes that it is going to be way forward in the longer run.
“I have always said that bilateral cricket will suffer, there’s no question about that, with the leagues spreading around the world, it is going to go the football way for sure. The national teams will assemble just before a big World Cup. The clubs will release players now for international duty. It is going to go that way in the long run, whether you like it or not.”
Already the ODI bilaterals are significantly reduced and players are opting to play in franchise leagues and most of the cricket experts feel that ODI cricket has lost its significance in recent times . In a recent development, England’s World Cup hero Ben Stokes announced a shocking retirement from the ODI format at the age of 31.